“Not for fame or reward, not lured by ambition or goaded by necessity, but in simple obedience to duty.” --Inscription at Arlington Cemetary

"Each of these heroes stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live and grow and increase in its blessings." -- Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Sunday, October 10, 2004

Army Pfc. James E. Prevete

Remember Our Heroes

Army Pfc. James E. Prevete, 22, of Whitestone, N.Y.

Pfc. Prevete was assigned to 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, Camp Greaves, Korea; killed Oct. 10 when his military vehicle encountered white-out conditions and the driver apparently lost control of the vehicle in Habbaniya, Iraq.

When James E. Prevete played football in high school, he wasn't embarrassed if his mom came along.

"After every good play, say, when he made a great tackle or he caused a fumble, he would raise his right hand to his mother in the stands," said Joe Licata, a teacher.

"Most players don't even want their parents there when they play, much less to acknowledge them on the field."

Prevete, 22, of New York City, died Oct. 10 when the vehicle he was riding in crashed in Habbaniya, Iraq. He was based in South Korea.

Prevete was a 2000 high school graduate who was known to study football plays before games while his buddies were goofing around.

He briefly attended Sacred Heart University and Queens College before joining the Army.

He is survived by his parents, Jean and Vincent, and sister, Laura.

"We talked online a little when he was still in Kuwait, and the one thing he always said was that no matter what happened, he didn't want us to ever forget about him," said friend David Pelaez. "I remember dropping Jimmy at the airport, and he turned to me and said, 'Just watch over my sister.'"